Convicted Child Predator Wanted for Woodland Heights Case Named DPS ‘Featured Fugitive’ for March

HOUSTON — A convicted child predator wanted for a groping case in Houston has been named the Featured Fugitive for March by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Carlos Jose Ayala Morales, a forty-three-year-old man, is also on the Texas 10 Most Wanted list.

Groping Incident and Ongoing Search

Police say Ayala groped a 7-year-old girl who was walking home from school in Woodland Heights on January 27. He has not been caught and is still at large.

In 2017, Ayala Morales was sent to prison for sexually assaulting several young girls in the Houston area. At the time of his arrest, Houston police said he was a suspect in at least 10 child sexual assault cases in Houston and Harris County between 2014 and 2017. He was convicted in four of those cases.

Errors in Sex Offender Registry

Media reported that Ayala Morales was released from prison a year ago; however, he was not listed on the DPS sex offender website. DPS admitted that a human error caused the failure to add Ayala Morales to the sex offender registry. He was added immediately after the mistake was discovered.

Release to ICE and Dropped Charges

Records show Ayala Morales, originally from Honduras, became a U.S. citizen at some point. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), he was released to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a detainer in February 2024. However, court records show the U.S. Attorney’s Office dropped unspecified charges against Ayala Morales that same month.

Safety Tips for Parents and Students

Houston police are advising parents and students who walk to and from school to take extra care. Here are some safety tips they shared: Stay alert and aware of people and surroundings. Teach your child about safe places along their route. Encourage children to walk in groups. Stick to well-lit areas. If a stranger approaches, scream, run the other way, and find a safe place to call the police.